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The Best Dinner Places Around Northeastern for When Your Parents Ship Up to Boston

Somewhere in between making your bed, doing your laundry, and emptying an entire can of Febreeze into your room, your tummy is going to remind you: since your parents are coming to visit you, you can go eat anywhereyou want with them. The only question now is “Where?” It can’t be anything too ridiculous (sorry, Dick’s Last Resort). No, it needs the right mixture of Boston spirit, a cool ambiance, and a really tasty menu.

(I also included Yelp reviews for the restaurants listed, which can be iffy on occasion. For comparison’s sake, BHOP has a rating of 2.5/5 stars, so take these as you will.)

Legal Sea Foods (two locations in and across from the Prudential Center)

I probably don’t need to list this one here (for the same reason why I don’t need to mention that grass is green and the sky is blue), but this list would be nothing without it. The go-to Northeastern “Parent Food” joint, Legal serves up all of the things Boston is known for with a classy ambiance without being pretentious. However, for more advanced options in the parental dining field, check out some of the other options on the list.

While occasionally there are some mixed reviews, the fact of the matter is that Max Brenner’s is the place to go for chocolate lovers. It has a very creative menu, with some of the best chocolate-based drinks around, and they even have their own chocolate shop in the restaurant.

For something other than your standard American fare, check out this modern, Barcelona-style tapas restaurant with its all-Spanish wine list in the South End. However, considering that they’ve recently received rave reviews, have a small seating area, and don’t take dinner reservations, you’re going to need to be strategic in your timing.

Maggiano’s Little Italy – Located near Northeastern and right off of the Commons, this family-style Italian restaurant is a pretty darn good value. They serve nice, large portions which works well for sharing with groups.

Cheesecake Factory – With a menu that reads like a culinary encyclopedia of every awesome food ever imagined, there will always be something for everyone. Located right across the reflection pool from Northeastern, it’s a great choice if you’re looking for a nearby place with a cool ambiance and a fun atmosphere.

Bonus Areas:

Mission Hill

Penguin Pizza – This place with their huge drink list and awesome pizzas pretty much outclasses every other pizza place near Northeastern (Yes, yes, New York Pizza and Il Mondo are great, but are generally not great places to bring Mom and Dad).

The Squealing Pig – A great place to get an artisanal Panini or burger, The Pig has a fun, alluring tavern vibe.

North End

Il Villagio – The classic tiny, Italian North end restaurant that makes up for its small size by serving awesome food.

Neptune Oyster – Full disclosure, I had never heard of this place before writing this post, but this is one of the highest ranked restaurants in Boston on yelp, with 4.5/5 Stars with 1139 reviews, which I consider to be a big deal. So if you want to double down on some oysters, it seems this is the place to be.